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One by One takes on “slow fashion,” one garment at a time

Seasons come, seasons go, and with them, the trends du jour. It’s an unrelenting cycle, one that at least one emerging brand wants to opt out of. Meet One by One, a minimalist’s dream come true. Based in Los Angeles, One by One thumbs its nose at the traditional fashion calendar by releasing its timeless staples one style at a time. Another nonconformist move? Eschewing physical stores in favor of the online space, an overhead-reducing tack that helps the brand keep its “made in the U.S.A.” prices palatable. Since the company operates on a flexible manufacturing schedule, it’s able to foster thoughtful supplier partnerships based on making what it considers the “best product possible.”

SLOW AND STEADY

Launched this past October, One by One is the brainchild of Ashley Denisov, a user-experience designer who studied fashion design and pattern marking in her downtime.

“After several years of creating clean user experiences for clients in the e-commerce market, I felt ready to translate that knowledge into my own online store,” Denisov told Ecouterre. “One by One, a clothing line I had been formulating for years, began in Los Angeles one year ago.”

One by One’s “slow fashion” stance is as much strategic as it is philosophical.

“We create items when inspiration strikes, hand in hand with local manufacturers,” Denisov said. “This allows us to have fast turnaround times, creating timeless fashions that are relevant all year round.”

With the tenets of sustainability, including local manufacturing, at its core, One by One makes its pieces at Los Angeles factories using eco-friendly fibers such as Tencel, which is derived from repurposed wood pulp, and wool from Oregon’s Imperial Stock Ranch, a 145-year-old family-owned and -operated farm known for its longstanding dedication to sustainable agriculture.

Wool is the star of One by One’s debut collection: “01 Wool”, a line of thick-knit sweaters with diagonal and horizontal stitches for structural detail.

Despite wool’s decline in favor of cheaper, petroleum-based synthetics such as acrylic, nylon, and polyester, Denisov believes that high-quality, humanely raised wool still has a place in our wardrobes.

“After hearing the story of Imperial Stock Ranch, it’s hard not to want to work with them,” she said. “They have adapted sustainable farming practices that reduce erosion and fossil fuels, improve stream water quality and benefit local fish and wildlife populations.”

Design-wise, Denisov didn’t have to look far for her muse.

“The designs for One by One are largely inspired by the women I work with: creative individuals who value quality over quantity and are looking for something timeless yet unique to reflect their own personal style,” she said.

One by One is designed for them.

“[We make] wardrobe staples they’ll want to reach for again and again,” she added.